Clasp



I. F. DELCOURT.

CLASP. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1920.

Patented May 31,1921.

panying drawings,

UNITED STATES JOSEPH'F. DELCOURT, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLASP.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH F.,DELooURT,

ments such as waist-bands of drawers, gai'- ters, etc.; and its object is to provide a simple and practical deviceof this character which will be very effective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the Vstationary jawthat it may have an extension forming a resilient carrying arm for the movable jaw and actuating' mechanism thus providing resilient 4means for holding the movable jaw 'in tight en-I gagement with the f stationary jaw when moved to an operative position.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the stationary jaw and movable jaw that a `firm grip upon the material placed betweenv tlie jaws may be obtained,

and tearing of the material prevented.

Another object ofthe invention is to so construct the operating lever and movable jaw that the movable jaw may be mountedl upon an eccentric disk carried by and moving with the operating lever.

This invention is illustrated in the accomwherein:

Figure 1A is a perspective view of the improved clasp showing the same inthe inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the movable jaw swung to the operative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the clasp with the movable jaw in the inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the claspl with the movable j aw in the operative position.

:Fig 5 vis a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

"Figv 6 is a sectional line 6-6 of Fig.4. Y, Y y .Y Fig. 7 isa group view showing the variview taken along the lous elements of the claspin perspective.

Fig. `8 isa view similar to 4 showing a slightly modied construction.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a movable jaw showing a slightly modified construction from that disclosed in'Fig. 7

This Aclasp will be used for engaging fagarment and isso constructed that it may be slipped over the edge of a waist-band andy tion of Figs. 3 and 4, it will be vseen that when moved to the operative position, thev movable jaw is rst swung into engagement with the stationary jaw and as the actuating lever is forced down to the position of Fig. 4, the movable jaw will be moved longitudinally of the stationary jaw kand the resilient tongue of the movable jaw will be forced away from the same-thus providing the necessary pressure to hold the movable jaw in tightV engagement with the stationaryl jaw and further providing the necessaryV pressure which will serve to prevent the lever from returning to the position of Fig. 1 and thus releasing the clasp.

ATENT OFFICE..

K Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 3, 1.921.;

Application filed August 20, 1920. Serial No. 404,893.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 through 7,

the device is intended-for use inconnection with a waist-band and two of the clasps will be carried by a connecting strip `of yieldable material but it is to be understood that the clasp may be used in any connection where a clasp of this character may be used.'

group view of the principal elements formv9o Referring to Fig. 7 which discloses a# Y is provided with a stationary, jaw 2, a'movable jaw 3, an Vactuating lever 4 and ya cam disk 5. The stationary jaw 2 isformed from a stripof resilient vmetal cut to provide longitudinally extending 'I grooves or" seats V6 and bent intermediate its length to provide an overhanging arm 7 which is cut from its free end thus Aproviding spaced'V lingers 8 rolled to form the bearings 9.

Since the stationary jaw is formed of resilient metal, the overhanging arm 7 may have able jaw thus providing the necessaryA pres=v sure when the movable jaw -is movedv toward' movement towardy and away from the movthe stationary jaw.

The movable Jaw 3 is formed with side. members 10 each of which is formed from -a blank of sheet metal bent longitudinally and connected by rivets 11 to provide an upstanding rib 12 having an opening 13 formed therein. The side wings of this movable jaw arel crimped longitudinally so that the jaw will lit into the seats 6 of the stationary jaw as shown in Fig. 6 and this shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the second side por- Y tion is bent down to form a depending lip Y 15 for clamping the material 1 against the side of the stationary jaw as shown inFig.v

1 but in Ythe form shown in. Fig. 97 the rSecond side of. this movable jaw extends outwardly similar to the side having the'slot 14 and is provided with a slot 1 6, the tongue 17 formed when cutting this slot being bent down to provide a tongue corresponding to the tongue 15.4 It will thus be seen that withthe form shown in Fig. 2, a strip of 'fabric for connecting two of the clasps can only be connected withone sideof arclasp whereasin the'form shown in F ig. 9, the

vconnecting strip could be connected with either side ofa clasp. The structure shown inF ig. 8 is similar to that disclosed inv Fig.

Y i, 4 except that one of the side` wings of the movable jaw is provided with a tongue extension bent to form an eye 18 in which a key-ring or other similar vdevice may be placed.

The actuating lever 4 is formed from a strip of sheet metal which is bent intermediate its length thus providing side arms 19V whichwill extend uponopposite sides of the rib 12 when the lever is put in place as shown in Fig, 1. This lever has its arms y19 provided with openings 20 to receive a pin 21 Vwhich passes through an opening 22 formed inthe eccentric disk 5 which will be positioned in the opening 13 and the arms are provided with a second set 'of openings 23 to receive a pivot pin24 which is journaled in the bearings 9 and extends through these openings 23 and also through a cutout 25 formed in the eccentric disk 5 adjacent the periphery thereof. It will thus be :seen that when the leveris put in place and connectedlwith the disk 5 by the pin 21 and the lever and disk mounted between the fingers 8- by means of the pivot pin24, the leveiwill` be' pivotally mounted and the movable jaw will be eccentrically mountedthus causing it to swing downwardly to engagev the .stationary jawy and vthen moved longitudinally of the stationary jaw when the lever is swung from the po- Sition ofF ig. 1 to that of Fig. 2( It will Ybe further noted that when the lever is swung downwardly to the locking position, the pin 21 will move from a position to one side ofthe pin 24 past the dead center to a position upon the opposite side of the pin 24 and therefore the resiliency of the Varm 7 will serve not only as meansI to force the movable jaw into tight engagement with the material 1 but will further serve as longitudinally of the jaw 2 and forced into tight gripping engagement with the material. This will shown: in F ig. 6 and the material will be very firmly gripped thus preventing slipping of the clasp. The point of prong 26 is formed by punching the metal of one arm v9 and will fit into a socket or seat 27 formed in the rib 12 when the lever is swungdownto the locking position. After the movable jaw has been brought into 'gripping engagement with the fabric positioned between the two jaws, this fabric will be very firmly gripped and will not be liable to slip loose especially if the strain is transversely of the jaws. There hasy thus beenprovided av clasp which can be easilyk and quickly put in place or removed and which will not be liable to slip loose-'when in place, nor to tear the material since the jaws have sufhcient bearing surface upon l the latter. It will be seen that the movable jaw of thev clasp is'mounted for swinging movement on the eccentric disk so that it` can swing or tilt and adapt itself to any irregularities in the material which is placed between the jaws.

`I claim:

A1. A clasp comprising a stationary jaw formed from a strip of resilient material` having one end portion bent to provide a spring arm overhanging the stationary jaw, a movable jaw Vpositioned between the stationary jaw and spring arm and having an upstanding rib provided with an-opening,

an actuating lever having spaced arms` extending upon opposite 'sides of the rib of saidL movable jaw, a disk carried by the acformed from a strip of resilient material having oneend portion bent to provide an overhanging arm terminating in spaced findistort the material as lever and through an opening formed adj a-y cent the periphery of the disk to mount the disk for eccentric movement when the lever swings upon the pivot pin and moves the movable jaw toward and away from the sta` tionary jaw and longitudinally of the stationary jaw when in engagement therewith.

3. A clasp comprising a stationary jaw, a spring arm extending above the stationary j aw, a movable jaw positioned between the stationary jaw and spring arm, a rib carried by the movablejaw and having a circular opening formed therein, a disk positioned in the opening of the rib, an actuating lever having spaced arms extending upon opposite sides of the rib and having said disk connected therewith, and a pivot pin carried by the spring arm and extending through openings in the disk and side arms ofl said lever to pivotally mount the lever, the opening in the disk receiving the pin being positioned adjacent the periphery thereof to mount the disk for eccentric movement when the lever is swung upon the pivot pin and move `the movable jaw toward and away from the sta-l tionary jaw and longitudinally of the stationary jaw when in engagement therewith.

4:. A clasp comprising astationary jaw, a spring arm extending above the stationary jaw, a movable jaw positioned between the spring arm and stationary j aw, the stationary j aw having longitudinally extending grooves Jforming seats and the movable jaw being bent to conformto the contour of the stationary jaw and t into the seats, a lever pivotally connected with the spring strip, a rib carried by the movable jaw and having an opening formed therein, and a disk carried by the lever for eccentric movement when the lever is swung pivotally and positioned in the opening of the rib to move the movable j aw toward and away from the stationary jaw and longitudinally thereof when in engagement with the stationary jaw.

5. A clasp comprising a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, a resilient support, an actuating lever pivotally connected with the support, and a disk connected with the lever and having eccentric movement when the lever is swung upon its pivot, the disk tting into an opening formed in a portion of the movable jaw to move the movable jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw and impart movement to the movable jaw longitudinally of the stationary jaw.

6. A clasp comprising a stationary jaw, a resilient supporting arm carried thereby and extending in spaced relation thereto, a movable jaw, an eccentric on which said movable jaw swings, a lever having loose connections with thev eccentric for actuating the same, and a common pivot'for the lever and eccentric.

7. A clasp comprising a stationary jaw, a movable jaw having a centrally arranged rib with a circular opening therein, an eccentric disk arranged in said opening,va pivotal support for the eccentric connected to said fixed jaw yieldably, and a lever for actuating the eccentric.

8. A clasp having a jaw, a yieldable support carried thereby and extending in overhanging relation to the same, a second jaw between the first jaw and support, an upstanding rib carried by the second jaw and having a circular seat formed therein, an actuating lever pivotally connected with said support for swinging movement against the side of said rib, and a circular disk carried by said lever eccentrically to its pivot and positioned in the seat of said rib for imparting movement to one j aw relative to the other when the lever is moved.y

9. A clasp having a j aw, a second j aw having a longitudinally extending rib, a pivotally mounted actuating lever having eccentric connection with the second jaw for moving one jaw toward the other into contacting relation therewith and then longitudinally thereof into a locking position, and a latching stud carried by said rib for snappingy into a socket of the lever and holding In testimony whereof I have hereunto setl my hand.

JOSEPH F. DELCOURT. 

